Please share your reports of interesting happenings at Hall’s Pond Sanctuary and enjoy reading others’ posts. Click on any photo to enlarge it.
Some ideas of things to share: animals, birds, flowers, trees, a cool rock, a tree shape, a strange fungus; a change you noticed from one visit to the next or over a period of time; snippets of overheard conversation about the Sanctuary; kids’ reactions. Write up something you find curious or awesome. Ask questions about something you saw or heard, or anything that HPS make you wonder about.
Things that cannot be posted: “Sightings” is meant to share our appreciation of Hall’s Pond Sanctuary nature: flora, fauna and landscape. We cannot post photos of people, even if their faces aren’t visible, and even if it’s a selfie. There are too many thorny issues arising from internet postings. Also, please no photos of political campaign items.
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Please share the date and time of your visit to HPS if it’s about something that happened on that day.
at 12:30 pm
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 16, 2023 6:50 AM – 7:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
31 species
Wood Duck 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 3
Herring Gull 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Warbling Vireo 3
Blue Jay 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
European Starling 5
Hermit Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 11
House Sparrow 9
American Goldfinch 3
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 4
Baltimore Oriole 3
Common Grackle 7
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S137967707
at 11:35 pm
Community Day, Spring 2023, Birdwatch Report
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 7, 2023 9:10 AM – 12:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling 1.9 mile(s)
Comments: Sunny, 70-80F. 9-10am: Fred Bouchard, solo. 10-11: w/ J Perrin. 11-12: w/ Fran Perler, JP, & 13 FOHP Community Day Volunteers.
32 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1 usual male — or two?
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5
Wild Turkey (Turcus Gobblensis) 2 heard in ivy street schoolyard
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2 separate callers at amory & beacon
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 7
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 6 hyperactive in formal garden apple trees
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 4
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2 secretive in ‘uplands’ at amory st. and ivy back-yard
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 15
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 3
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 1 merlin IDed; sweeter finch song heard 1-2 times central platform
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 0 did not check amory street
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 2 males calling high in canopy
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 6
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
new world warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1 shy male in apple by platform
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136500078
at 7:25 am
The resident male Wood Duck was once again spotted on its favorite branch, and then had a leisurely paddle around the pond. I have not seen a female Wood Duck at Hall’s Pond in several weeks, and wonder if it is on a nearby nest- or perhaps the resident male does not have a mate.
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 4, 2023 6:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
18 species
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 4
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 5
Gray Catbird 1
American Robin 9
House Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 3
Northern Cardinal 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136117059
at 12:32 am
We had a wonderful Friends of Hall’s Pond bird walk this morning. The Pond’s resident male Wood Duck spent the entire time posing for us, standing on one leg and preening on a large branch in the water.
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
May 2, 2023 6:45 AM – 8:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.4 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Friends of Hall’s Pond Bird Walk
28 species
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 5
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 7
House Sparrow 6
American Goldfinch 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 5
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Common Grackle 5
Yellow Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 5
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S135787935
at 11:27 pm
Birdwalk Report, April 25, 2023, late submission by F Bouchard
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods
Apr 25, 2023 6:47 AM – 8:17 AM
Traveling: 1 mile
Checklist Comments: p/c, 50F, breeze NE. Neil Gore in full lecture mode leads walk:
Some attendees: N Calabro, M Joy, J Schreffler, A Frechette, F Bouchard, J & E Perrin, Ed, Andrea…
Species tallied: 25
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1 (presumably wife on eggs)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2 males!
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5 flyovers; none on pond
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 2 one heard, one Ewe St (Knyvet Sq)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 3
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1 early flyover
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 1 Ed spots it in boardwalk maple
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2 mason square
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 14
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 5
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 7 duelling mailes
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 17
new world warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) 0
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S134962399
at 10:38 pm
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Apr 12, 2023 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
25 species
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Mourning Dove 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 3
American Robin 19
House Sparrow 5
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Northern Cardinal 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133549051
at 12:27 am
Another magical moment at Hall’s Pond on my morning commute…
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Mar 30, 2023 7:00 AM – 7:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
18 species
Canada Goose 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
American Robin 19
House Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 7
Northern Cardinal 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S132203481
at 6:45 pm
eBird list:
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Mar 24, 2023 7:00 AM – 7:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
21 species
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 7
House Sparrow 4
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
White-throated Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 7
Northern Cardinal 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S131676197
at 8:23 pm
If Mallard Ducks were not so common, birders would travel hundreds of miles to see them with their iridescent green heads (males) and shimmering blue secondary feathers (females and males). See a photo of a male mallard at Hall’s Pond below.
eBird report: Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Feb 22, 2023 7:00 AM – 7:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
15 species
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
American Robin 4
House Sparrow 3
House Finch 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 5
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S129349046
at 8:10 pm
eBird Report by Thomas Michel
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Feb 20, 2023 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
21 species
Canada Goose 3
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 4
House Sparrow 5
House Finch 3
Song Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S129098805
at 2:58 am
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Feb 16, 2023 11:10 AM – 11:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling 1.2 kilometer(s)
Comments: Semi-grayish, warm, 58F. 15 species.
Robins and Juncos aplenty at Knyvet Park: no dogs! (John Harris sighting)
Some gal reported a Sapsucker an hour after I was there,
and another regular (JW) spotted a Brown Creeper.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6 three pair
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 1 quick gobble
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 2 1100 beacon
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 finishing squirrel lunch above gazebo
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 7
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 20 churchill and beacon
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 setting up housekeeping in cattails
at 3:56 pm
Veteran birder Eric Neilsen spotted FIVE species of woodpecker at Hall’s Pond on the last day of January.
A clean sweep of MA species would only add Pileated, only found in far more extensive woods and forests.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S127330157
Fred Bouchard
at 11:10 pm
Walkers at Halls Pond should keep on the lookout for wintering bird species reported this last week, including Merlin, Barred Owl, and four different woodpeckers: Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and an unusual over-wintering (or very late migrant) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Happy Holidays!
at 9:38 pm
Blue heron
at 2:06 pm
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Oct 11, 2022 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling 0.9 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Sunny, still. Leps = 0. Herps: Red-eared Slider 2, E.P. Turtle 4. 19 species
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 4
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1 descending sharp peek in amory
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 5
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 2
Veery (Catharus fuscescens) 1 small, brick-red cartharus on path between cattails and ivy st. iron fence
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8 foraging with grackles on leafy floor of uplands
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 5 amory st
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2 near formal garden
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 7
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) 1 pond willows
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 3 pond willows
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S120513088
at 10:16 pm
Hall’s Pond & Amory Woods, Norfolk, Massachusetts, US
Sep 27, 2022 1:10 PM – 2:15 PM
Checklist Comments: 75F, clear, still. Leps: MONARCH, MOURNING CLOAK, CABBAGE WHITE.
Large clumps of bright yellow Jack O’Lantern [Omphalotus Illudens] mushrooms in Amory Woods. Danger!
Many darling and durable dog-walkers.
13 species (+1 other taxa)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 3, spooked from shore foliage
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 1 gobbles near ivy street
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
Catharus sp. (Catharus sp.) 1 uplands
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 5
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1 silhouetted on shoreline
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S119536665
at 3:58 pm
Rare bird at the pond! David Lowe spotted a Pied-billed Grebe this morning. Watch for it! https://ebird.org/checklist/S117488539
at 6:29 pm
It looks like some kind of gas is bubbling up in the pond, quite near to the outlook nearest Freeman St.
at 6:14 pm
May 20,2022 3:35 PM
at 1:37 am
hey sam! that is a solitary sandpiper you photographed. most unusual sighting at Hall’s Pond! (in fact, probably a first, or second, ever.) thanks for sharing. hope it sticks around. fred bouchard
at 10:37 pm
This very rare sighting of an American Bittern was recorded just past 7 am on May 17, 2022. According to Neil Gore, it was first sighted at Hall’s Pond on Oct. 6, 2003.